ABSTRACT
Objective
The objective of this scoping review is to synthesize and identify gaps in existing
research on accessibility of telemedicine-delivered contraceptive health services
to female adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and acceptability of these services
to AYA patients and their medical providers.
Methods
We searched the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL databases to extract relevant studies
on telemedicine and provision of contraceptive services among non-institutionalized,
non-chronically ill female AYAs, ages 10 through 24 years.
Results
We screened 154 articles, and 6 articles representing 5 studies met the full inclusion
criteria. Three studies assessed telemedicine acceptability and accessibility from
the perspective of providers, and 3 described patients’ perceived accessibility and
acceptability of a theoretical telemedicine visit. No studies directly assessed AYA
patients’ satisfaction with actual telemedicine visits for contraceptive services.
Providers viewed telemedicine-delivered sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services
as acceptable to themselves and AYA patients. Most AYAs reported that they would use
telemedicine for SRH services, although they would prefer in-person care. All articles
identified concerns about privacy and confidentiality as a barrier to SRH telemedicine
care.
Conclusions
Telemedicine-delivered contraceptive health services for AYAs were perceived as acceptable
and accessible by providers and by most AYA patients, although patients reported a
preference for in-person care. However, none of these findings are based on patients’
actual experiences with SRH telemedicine. Further research is needed to directly assess
the accessibility and acceptability of telemedicine-delivered contraceptive health
services for female AYA patients.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 26, 2022
Accepted:
May 19,
2022
Received in revised form:
May 2,
2022
Received:
February 22,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
